Algeria ruling party turns its back on Bouteflika, says he is “history now”

Algeria’s ruling FLN party showed more signs of turning its back on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Friday, with one senior party figure saying in an interview overnight that the long-serving leader was “history now”.

Former spokesman, Hocine Kheldoun, became one of the most senior FLN officials to break with Bouteflika publicly, saying the party had to look forward and support the aims of demonstrators.

Meanwhile, Thousands of protesters protested in Algeria’s capital today to demand Bouteflika’s immediate resignation. On Monday, he postponed the planned 18 April presidential elections. Protesters, however, accuse the 82-year-old leader of illegally extending his term.

Bouteflika’s position is becoming more tenuous as he has lost one ally after another, including prominent members of the ruling party, which has dominated since France’s defeat in 1962